Thursday, June 14, 2007 Express takes first game in quarterfinal series
THE AIR21 Express moved a win shy of bagging a slot in the semifinal round after it cut off the Phone Pals, 121-102, yesterday in Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinal series in the 2007 Talk ’N Text PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Express, a team that nobody thought could reach the quarterfinals, proved to all the skeptics that it can win big games as it rallied back from a six-point halftime deficit to choke the Phone Pals and build a 1-0 series lead.
After starting slow in the opening quarter, the Express suddenly came to life in the penultimate canto as they scored a whooping 38 points in 12 minutes for a 97-79 edge going into the homestretch.
During that run, Niño Cañaleta scored 11 points to spearhead the rally that turned out to be the dagger that pierced the hearts of the Phone Pals.
Cañaleta finished the game with 21 markers on a 9-of-16 field goal shooting and grabbed seven caroms in 33 minutes to nail the Best Player of the Game award.
Winnie Arboleda also exploded big for the Express as he banged in 22 points, including a booming trey that poured cold water on the Phone Pals’ spirited fourth quarter rally.
Mark Clemence Telan added 17 for the boys of Air21 coach Bo Perasol, while import Shawn Daniels finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists after sitting it out most of the first half. (JSV)
